1st Australian Task Force

The 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) was a brigade of Australian and New Zealander soldiers deployed to South Vietnam from 1966 to 1972 during the Vietnam War. In March 1966, the Australians deployed the 4,500-strong 1 ATF to Vietnam, and its numbers later rose to 6,300 troops. It was based at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province, and it distinguished itself at the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966, Operation Coburg and the Battle of Coral-Balmoral in 1968, the Battle of Hat Dich and the Battle of Binh Ba in 1969, and the Battle of Long Khanh in June 1971. Starting in November 1970, in coordination with the United States' strategy of Vietnamization, the 1 ATF began to withdraw from Vietnam, with the New Zealanders withdrawing by May 1971 and the last Australian battalion leaving on 9 December 1971. On 12 March 1972, the last company of Australian troops withdrew, ending Australia's intervention in the war.